Tracking the money: The biggest donors in the 2026 US midterm elections

The 2026 US midterms are on track to be the most expensive in the country’s history. Spending on political advertising alone is projected to reach $11.6bn, more than in any previous election cycle, including the 2024 presidential race, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.Much of that money comes from wealthy donors, political nonprofits and businesses seeking to shape Washington’s priorities, and some of it passes through networks of organisations before it is spent.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3All you need to know about US midterms 2026list 2 of 3Trump’s broken promises: economy, war and ICElist 3 of 3Could the midterms change US military support for Israel?end of listIn this visual explainer, Al Jazeera uses Federal Election Commission data to trace the billionaires, financiers and companies behind the largest contributions ahead of the November 3 vote.The 50 largest donors contributed $2.77bnThe 50 largest donors and organisations have so far contributed a combined $2.77bn during the 2026 midterm election cycle.Republican-aligned contributors accounted for $1.67bn, or about 60 percent of donations, double the $832m (30 percent) from Democratic-aligned con...